ABSTRACT
Even before therapists encounter a dissociative identity disorder (DID) client, they will have been affected by the anxiety and even hostility raised by any mention of the diagnosis among mental health professionals. This chapter describes the special challenges of working with clients whose parts are not only structurally dissociated but also function autonomously, often with little to no awareness of the others. The most well-known assessment tool, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, a self-report instrument, is the easiest to administer but unfortunately is also the least reliable tool. Many therapists are intimidated by the challenge of taking on their first DID clients because they have received so little exposure to or training on the treatment of dissociation or dissociative disorders. The chapter presents a case example of Sheila that provides the risks of a memory disclosure approach to the treatment of DID.
